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Auckland Zoo

The Auckland Zoo is calling all visitors to New Zealand who want to see an amazing collection of animals. Certainly among the top attractions in Auckland, the Auckland Zoo is an environmentally-conscious place that is known to be among the most progressive zoos on the planet. It’s certainly among the best zoos found in the Australasian world, and it offers the largest collection of native species found in New Zealand.

Tiger- Auckland Zoo

Suricata suricatta – Auckland Zoo

In 1956, the Auckland Zoo looked to position itself among the top attractions in Auckland by adding an exhibit known as the “Chimp’s Tea Party”. Such an exhibit was already popular at the London Zoo, and though it helped bring in more visitors, the Auckland Zoo eventually decided to stop the exhibit. Some other significant years in the history of the Auckland New Zealand Zoo include 1923, when the first elephant was acquired, 1981, which saw the first animal hospital opening here, and the year 2000, when the Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund was established.

California Sea Lion relaxing in the sun

Galapagos Tortoise- Auckland Zoo

2010 was another significant year for the zoo, as it opened its new “Te Wao Nui” exhibit. It’s the most important, large-scale project that the Auckland Zoo has ever undertaken, and it will center around the culture, flora, and fauna of New Zealand.
Some of the best current exhibits at this top New Zealand zoo include the “Animal Planet Elephant Clearing”, the “Sealion and Penguin Shores”, and the “Bank of New Zealand Kiwi and Tuatara House”.

Ara ararauna -Auckland Zoo

Auckland Zoo Baboons. Mother and baby baboon

The Animal Planet Elephant Clearing is where you can watch the antics of the country’s only Asian elephants. Sometimes the elephant trainers take the elephants for a stroll around the zoo, which is quite a sight to see. The Sealion and Penguin Shores exhibit features sealions from California, fur seals from New Zealand, and even some little blue penguins. The flora found in this exhibit is native to New Zealand, and you’ll likely appreciate the landscaping done here. There is a beach you can walk where various shore birds can be observed, or you can head to the underwater viewing window to watch the fur seals and sealions swim. The Bank of New Zealand Kiwi and Tuatara House is special, as it is here that you can check out the country’s national bird and symbol, the Kiwi. Tuataras are lizard-like creatures that are often referred to as living fossils. You won’t want to miss these intriguing creatures. Birdwatching enthusiasts will want to include the Auckland Zoo’s Australian bird aviary on their lists of attractions in Auckland, where you can feed nectar to rainbow lorikeets.